Microraptor — a crow-sized dinosaur with four feathered wings

When and where

Microraptor lived in what is now Liaoning Province, China, between 125 and 120 million years ago. The fossils come from lake sediments in the Jiufotang Formation, a rock layer famous for preserving the fine impressions of feathers alongside bones. This region sits in northeastern Asia, near the ancient Pacific coast, and was home to a dense forest ecosystem when Microraptor darted between the trees.

How we know

Paleontologists have recovered dozens of nearly complete Microraptor skeletons from Liaoning since the first description in 2000. The fossils preserve black, hair-like filaments across the body and asymmetrical flight feathers on both the forelimbs and hindlimbs. In 2003, researchers described Microraptor gui, the best-known species, and noted that it had the longest feathers on its lower legs and feet. Study of melanosomes inside the preserved feathers revealed iridescent black plumage, like that of a modern starling. The naming and classification come from work by Xu Xing and colleagues at the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology in Beijing. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microraptor

What set it apart

Microraptor stood out because it had four functional wings, not two. Each wing bore long, asymmetrical feathers arranged for aerodynamic lift. At roughly 77 centimetres from snout to tail tip and weighing about 1 kilogram, it was closer in size to a modern crow than to the larger dromaeosaurs such as Velociraptor or Deinonychus. The long feathers on its legs suggest it glided between trees rather than taking off from the ground. Some researchers argue that this body plan represents a key stage in the transition from tree-climbing to powered flight among dinosaurs.

For collectors and classrooms

Microraptor makes an excellent classroom example because its size, feather impressions, and four-wing layout capture the imagination of young learners studying the origin of flight. A Microraptor figurine or model offers a tactile reference point when pupils compare it with birds they see today. If you are looking for a Microraptor toy or model to add to a collection, shop Microraptor figurines here.